Enjoy the Holidays Without The Weight Gain

5 Tips to Help You Stay on Track 

By Lyne Desforges, Registered Holistic Nutritionist & Culinary Nutrition Expert

Most people associate the holiday season with a 5-lb weight gain but it doesn’t have to be. You can still enjoy the good food and the fun times. Practising a little mindfulness and gratitude will go a long

 way in helping you stay on track.

Here are our 5 top tips for staying focused on your health and wellness goals.

1. Have a plan and stick to it.
   

   Before heading out to a cocktail party, a family dinner, or a night out with 
   friends, decide what you will permit for that evening. For example, you may choose to have only one drink for the whole evening. Or you may decide that you will taste everything but in small quantities. Or finally, you might choose to skip the dessert. Whatever your plan is, make sure to stick with it.
   It is also good to get organized at home. Prep and plan your meals in advance to prevent the temptation of buying fast or processed food. Meal planning is also an excellent tool to help maintain a healthy weight.
   
   

2. Eat only when truly hungry.
   

   All those holiday treats look very alluring, but do you really need to eat right now? Are your truly hungry or is it something else? Identify what is the trigger for your need to eat (i.e. boredom, social pressure, fatigue, thirst, etc.). Have a big glass of water instead and wait 15 minutes. If you are still truly hungry, have a nutritious snack. Check out our free Eat Clean for the Holidays cookbook for healthy snack ideas.
   
   

3. Reduce or eliminate alcohol.
   

   Avoid all those sugary cocktails and the bingeing on alcohol. These are empty calories that provide no nutrient value to the body. It actually affects your immune system and your sleep. So instead of opting for one or two glasses of wine, why not make it one spritzer and eliminate half of the alcohol. Or even better, try one of our suggested drinks in our free Clean Eats for the Holidays cookbook. 
   
   

4. Stick to your fitness routine.
   

   It’s even more important to keep active during the holidays, to burn the excess calories you may be ingesting. Add a walk after every meal to help with digestion. Get out and enjoy the beautiful weather. How about some snowshoeing, skating, or tobogganing? Play outside like when you were a child.
   
   

5. Be mindful and use moderation.
   

   Being a mindful eater means sitting down at a table, chewing slowly, and savouring every bite. Doing this means you will automatically eat less. Include the practice of Hara Hachi Bu in your eating routine. This is the Japanese art of eating till only 80% full. Use moderation in your portions and frequency of meals.

Allow yourself one guilt-free day where you can indulge on great homemade foods! And lastly, practice gratitude every day. Being in a state of gratitude not only injects you with a sense of happiness and joy but it has many medical benefits as well. So, take a moment to be thankful for all the bounty that surrounds you…the bounty of food, good health and loved ones.